More people riding South Shore Line, but it may not be enough

September 30, 2006

GARY, Ind. (AP) Â? High gas prices and construction slow-downs may bother drivers, but the annoyances have helped boost ridership on the South Shore Line, which carries commuters from South Bend to Chicago.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District recorded a 13 percent ridership increase since last August, said John Parsons, the agency's spokesman.

"This really started last August right after Katrina, when gas prices started to rise," he said. "Then we saw the real spike in gas prices and construction start ... and that's when the peak-period ridership took off."

Officials are considering extending the commuter rail line service to Valparaiso and Lowell.

But Northwest Indiana may not be growing fast enough to qualify for Federal Transit Authority funds to help pay for the project. Also, the Canadian National rail line has notified the district that its tracks already are too busy to share with commuter trains, so the district could have to lay new tracks to make the extension possible.

People who use the commuter rail line, like Donna Alt of Highland and Kathy Bandura of Munster, enjoy the service to Chicago.

"I like the convenience of not having to pay for parking downtown," Bandura said. "Plus, it's time to relax and visit with people. It's also convenient to where I work."

Alt said the train isn't always perfect but it is still an option.

"It's definitely not reliable," she said. "But compared to the cost of parking and gas, it's the only alternative."